Holness dismisses claim that DPP’s time extended to benefit Gov’t members
Published:Saturday | August 5, 2023 | 12:05 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has rubbished suggestions that the increase in retirement age for Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn, extending her time in office, is a compromise that could yield favourable outcomes for members of his administration in the future.
Holness, who was speaking during a press briefing on Thursday at the Office of the Prime Minister, called the claim “nonsense”.
The parliamentary Opposition has suggested that the extension of Llewellyn’s tenure could ultimately influence the outcome of the Integrity Commission’s investigation of six legislators suspected of illicit enrichment.
Seven others are under the searchlight for allegedly providing false information to the anti-corruption body.
“It is unbecoming of someone who holds a constitutional office to bring into disrepute literally another constitutional office holder,” Holness said, declining to comment further on matters related to the Integrity Commission.
Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding, during the debate to amend Sections 96(1) and 121(1)) of the Constitution, said the director of corruption prosecution at the Integrity Commission may be asked to consider whether charges should be made at the end of the investigations of the parliamentarians.
He also noted that the director of corruption prosecution at the Integrity Commission was subject to the supervening authority of the DPP under the Constitution.
“The rush to make these amendments happening now in that context is also something that requires some explanation,” he said.
The Opposition has accused the Government of “ramming” the amendment to the Constitution through both Houses of Parliament. The change to the legislation has moved the retirement age for the office holders of the DPP and auditor general from 60 to 65.
The change would give Llewellyn a second extension in office, increasing her 15-year tenure to at least 17.
Holness said it is now up to Llewellyn, who is on three weeks’ leave, whether she will take up the extension even as she faces strong opposition from civil society groups and the Jamaican Bar Association.
“It really depends on the DPP. She has an option if she wants,” he said.
He said that changing the retirement age was an objective to fulfil a government policy, which started from as far back as the Bruce Golding administration.
He said it was also a discussion during the subsequent People’s National Party Government as part of International Monetary Fund considerations.
Holness said that it found its way into a Cabinet decision and then legislation moved by the minister of justice.
“It was debated in Parliament. So if you are asking about consultation, that’s the ultimate consultation. So the issue of the increase in the pensionable age is something that has been well-defined. The question is why would there be an objection to this? And it would appear that the objection is not uniform. The objection is to one particular office versus the other,” said Holness.
There have been calls for Llewellyn, who turns 63 in September, not to accept the extension. The first extension was granted in 2020 and is set to end next month.
Auditor General Pamela Monroe Ellis, who began her tenure a month apart from Llewellyn, is in her early 50s. She, too, could benefit from the amendment.